Montane Winter Spine

Montane Winter Spine : event overview

The Montane Winter Spine is a non-stop, 268 mile race along the Pennine Way. The route starts in Edale, Derbyshire, and finishes in Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. Runners have a time limit of 168 hours to complete the course. The route crosses the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian's Wall and the Cheviots. Total ascent is 10,732 metres and total descent is 10,941 metres. Typical January conditions listed include daytime temperatures from 0°C to 10°C and night-time temperatures from -10°C to 2°C. Daylight in January is listed as eight hours.

Entry, checkpoints and support

Entry is restricted to people aged 21 or over. Qualification requires previous experience such as a mountain, hill or moorland ultra over 100 miles, prior completion of a Montane Spine Challenger event, or similar mountain or navigation events. The race lists 150 places and an entry fee of £1,345. A deposit is required when entering and the remaining fee is due 100 days before the race.

Main checkpoints named on the route include Birchcliffe, Hawes, Hardraw, Langdon Beck, Alston and Bellingham. Checkpoint services include hot meals and drinks, sleeping spaces, toilets and showers at Hawes, Alston and Bellingham, professional medical crews, resupply bags, weather updates and volunteer support. The event is described as unsupported; cafes and pubs along the route may be used, but planned pacing, private support vehicles or planned external pacing are not allowed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.